Research methods in palliative care

Description

Palliative and end of life care are concerned with the physical, social, psychological and spiritual care of people with advanced disease. It currently has a poorly developed research base, but the need to improve this is increasingly recognised. One of the reasons for the lack of research - and the variable quality of the research that is undertaken - is the difficulty of conducting research with very ill and bereaved people. Standard and well-established research methods may need to be adapted to work in this context. This means that existing research methods textbooks may be of limited use to palliative care practitioners seeking to do research for the first time, or to more experienced researchers wanting to apply their knowledge in palliative care settings.

This research methods textbook is the first to be written specifically for palliative care. It has been edited by four experienced palliative care academics with acknowledged expertise and international reputations in this field. It encompasses methods used in both clinical and health services research in palliative care, with sections on clinical, epidemiological, survey and qualitative research, as well as a section covering skills needed in any research project. Each chapter provides readers with an up to date overview of the research method in question, an understanding of its applicability to palliative care and of the particular challenges of using it in this setting. It is essential reading for all palliative care researchers.

Research methods in palliative care

Author Information

Edited by Julia M Addington-Hall, Chair in End of Life Care, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Southampton, UK, Eduardo Bruera, Professor and Chair, Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Texas M D Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA, Irene J Higginson, Professor of Palliative Care and Policy, Department of Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation, King's College London, UK, and Sheila Payne, Help the Hospices Chair in Hospice Studies, International Observatory on End of Life Care, Institute of Health Research, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK

Contributors:

Julia M Addington-Hall, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Southampton, UK Michael I Bennett, St Gemma's Hospice and University of Leeds, UK Eduardo Bruera, Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Texas M D Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA Malcolm Campbell, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Manchester, UK Massimo Costantini, Unit of Clinical Epidemiology, National Cancer Institute, Genova, Italy Michele Crossley, Institute for Health Research, Liverpool John Moore's University, UK Sue Davies, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Sheffield, UK Marjolein Gysels, Department of Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation, King's College London, UK Richard Harding, Department of Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation, King's College London, UK Irene J Higginson, Department of Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation, King's College London, UK Christine Ingleton, Centre for Health and Social Care Research, Sheffield Hallam University, UK Laura Kelly, Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, Surrey, UK Margaret O'Connor, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Monash University, Frankston, Australia Sheila Payne, International Observatory on End of Life Care, Institute of Health Research, Lancaster University, UK Yolanda Zuriarrain Reyna, Department of Palliative Care & Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Texas M D Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA Anita Sargeant, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Sheffield, UK Jane Seymour, School of Nursing, University of Nottingham, UK Frances Sheldon, School of Social Sciences, University of Southampton, UK (Frances died during the writing of this book; her wisdom and expertise in palliative care are evident in the chapter she co-authored for it; she is greatly missed) Patrick Stone, St George's University of London and NHS Trust, London, UK Peter Speck, Department of Palliative Care and Policy, King's College London; School of Psychology, University of Southampton, UK Christ Todd, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Manchester, UK

Research methods in palliative care

Reviews and Awards

"The book is well set out, with a useful system of headings ... easily understood by somebody not familiar with the research process. ...this book will be a useful reference for those experienced in research and an invaluable guide for those embarking upon it for the first time." - Palliative Care,